Buehrle slides into, out of doghouse

Williams peeved but declines to fine lefty for tarp antics

April 18, 2006|BY MARK GONZALES.

Mark Buehrle dodged an injury Sunday despite his poor technique, and Monday the left-handed White Sox ace dodged a fine by general manager Ken Williams for sliding on the infield tarp during a rain delay.

"It's fun going out there, but I see the point if I go out there and get hurt it's going to be a big loss for this team," Buehrle said Monday after meeting with Williams. "So I don't want to get hurt and screw our chances up."

A terse and angry Williams declined to discuss the matter with reporters before meeting with Buehrle. But Buehrle said the GM conveyed his concern during their discussion.

"He said I had a bad technique and was afraid I was going to get hurt," Buehrle said. "No fine. If I do it again, then there will be a fine."

Buehrle added that his enjoyment of sliding on a tarp dates back further than last year, when he performed similarly during a rain delay.

"I would do it if there was no one in [the park]," Buehrle said. "I think it's more fun for me. I like to go out there and do it.

"I used to do it when I was a little kid, in the back yard in the summertime. I would go out there all day without anyone in the stands."

The only matter Buehrle questioned was Williams' assessment of his technique.

"He said there was a picture," Buehrle said. "I think I had good technique."

Several teammates said they could understand both sides.

"Mark likes to have fun," A.J. Pierzynski said. "He hasn't gotten hurt. I hope he doesn't get hurt, but I understand where Kenny and the organization are coming from, and you don't want your ace pitcher doing a tarp slide and possibly injuring himself."

An injury would be costly to the Sox and Buehrle, who has made at least 32 starts and worked at least 221 innings each season since 2001. The Sox hold a $9.5 million option on Buehrle for 2007.

Wait till next year

The Sox's start hasn't measured up to last season's impressive pace, but Williams said several players experienced a shorter off-season for the first time and that pitchers Freddy Garcia and Javier Vazquez had to prepare early for the World Baseball Classic.

"I talked with John Smoltz in Atlanta about innings and stress on your arms, the physical and mental stress in regard to postseason play, just to get a better idea," Williams said. "These are uncharted waters, but now we've got a frame of reference."